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SteelBlueTJ

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 2, 2012
445
67
USA
My nearest Apple Store is over 100 miles away from my home. If I were to purchase AppleCare + for my new Apple Watch Series 4, how would I go about getting it repaired if there was an accident? Would I have to make the 3 hour drive to the Apple Store or is there a way to ship my device to Apple for repair and they ship it back when it's done? Just curious before I spend the $79. Thanks!
 

SteelBlueTJ

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 2, 2012
445
67
USA
That's not what I was asking. I just wanted to know if I had Applecare and needed to use it, Would I have to physically go to an Apple retail store, or can I ship my device to Apple for repair?
 

Weaselboy

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 23, 2005
34,484
16,200
California
My nearest Apple Store is over 100 miles away from my home. If I were to purchase AppleCare + for my new Apple Watch Series 4, how would I go about getting it repaired if there was an accident? Would I have to make the 3 hour drive to the Apple Store or is there a way to ship my device to Apple for repair and they ship it back when it's done? Just curious before I spend the $79. Thanks!

https://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/applecareplus/docs/applecareplusnaen.html

I found this on their web site, so it looks like you can mail it in.

===
(a) Carry-in service. Carry-in service is available for most Covered Equipment. Return the Covered Equipment to an Apple-owned retail store location or to a service provider authorized by Apple that offers carry-in service. Service will be performed for you at the store, or the store may send the Covered Equipment to an Apple repair service (“ARS”) site for service. You must promptly retrieve the Covered Equipment.

(b) Mail-in service. Direct mail-in service is available for most Covered Equipment. If Apple determines that your Covered Equipment is eligible for mail-in service, Apple will send you prepaid waybills (and, if needed, packaging material). You must ship the Covered Equipment to an ARS site in accordance with Apple’s instructions. Once service is complete, the ARS site will return the Covered Equipment to you. Apple will pay for shipping to and from your location if you follow all instructions.
 

Peepo

macrumors 65816
Jun 18, 2009
1,174
627
If you need a replacement or repair... you can do two ways..

1. They ship you a box and you return defective device, they either repair or send back a "like new" one to you.
2. Express repair... they place a hold on your credit card for value of device, they send you the "like new" replacement first and you send back old one within 10 days and they remove the credit card hold. They charge you for type of repair based on what your old device needed (but only up to the max AppleCare plus per incident charge).

Option 2 is nicest because you will always get a brand new device every time because they ship replacement first, but I think with option 1 they send out a new device also instead of repairing. Not sure on that though because say for example if you just wanted a screen replacement on the watch because it cracked, they may do just that somehow, but with an express repair you get new everything new eg. like new battery, and if case had a few scuffs on it etc. that would also be new because would be an entirely new watch. I think watches they probably replace for anything but I believe iPhones they may replace just a screen on your device you send in.
 
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